'Paid news' claim lands Udayavani in a fix, Congress complains to EC

March 15, 2012
Udupi, March 15: The Congress has submitted a complaint with the election officer here against Udayavani for carrying out 'paid news' in favour of BJP in the run up to the March 18 byelection to the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency.

Vijay Hegde, an advocate and the election agent of the Congress candidate K. Jayaprakash Hegde on Wednesday met the deputy commissioner Dr. R Reju, who is also the election officer, and handed over the written complaint.

The Coastal Karnataka's popular Kannada daily has been publishing a series of pro-BJP reports for the last couple of weeks. These pro-BJP advertisements have been camouflaged into news stories and lakhs of rupees have been paid to the paper's owners, the complaint said.

It was said that Mr. Hegde was not keen on taking on one of the mightiest newspapers of the coastal Karnataka, but since the one-sided publicity continued unabated, the Congress candidate had to petition the election officer.

Mr. Hegde was initially apprehensive that if he went against the paper, his pictures and news would be blacked out. But the Congress leaders, including Pramod Madhwaraj, had made public their resentment about the 'paid news' without naming any newspaper.

In the March 14 edition, the Udayavani had carried a 'news story' titled 'State Government's bumper offer for fishermen', which hailed the contribution of the State Government to the fishermen without going into any analysis.

The 'report' also quoted presidents of government-appointed bodies of fishermen, who are also active in BJP. For the last few days, Udayavani has been publishing such pro-BJP special stories on page 12 evoking criticism from its readers and non-BJP party workers.

Speaking to presspersons in Udupi on Wednesday, Mr. Madhwaraj hit out at BJP for misleading people throw 'paid news' and taking the credit for the welfare schemes implemented by the Central Government for fishermen. "The Union Government has implemented several schemes for the fishermen, but the BJP is indulging in cheap politics by taking the credit," he said.

"Doctor Acharya Abhivruddi Kodugegale BJPige Srirakshe," "Sri Kshetra Kachchurina Abhivriddi: Rajya Sarakaradinda eradu Koti Rupaigu mikki anudana," are some of the headlines given to the alleged 'paid news' items. Interestingly, most of these items do not have a dateline, which is a clear deviation from the Udayavani's stylesheet.


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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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coastaldigest.com news network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has issued a high-alert warning to vehicle owners regarding a surge in cyber fraud targeting those looking to pay traffic violation fines. Fraudsters are reportedly exploiting recent government discount schemes on traffic penalties to deceive citizens.

The Scam: How Fraudsters Strike

Criminals are using SMS, WhatsApp, and social media to circulate suspicious links and APK files (Android application packages). They claim these apps allow users to pay e-challans at a discount.

•    Device Hacking: Downloading these unauthorized apps gives hackers full access to the victim's smartphone.

•    Financial Theft: Once the phone is compromised, fraudsters intercept OTPs and personal data to drain bank accounts.

•    Phishing Sites: Fake websites mimicking official portals are also being used to harvest banking credentials.

Already, two residents within Mangaluru city limits have reported significant financial losses after falling victim to these fraudulent apps.

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